Sexual Assault

Abstract

Sexual assault affects as many as one-third of women around the world. Sexual assault includes individual traumatic events as well as chronic sexually abusive relationships, and can involve a partner, acquaintance, or stranger. Many women who have experienced sexual assault develop long-term mental and physical effects of their sexual trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol abuse, and dyspareunia. OBGYNs are able to have long-lasting impacts on the many survivors of sexual assault by screening effectively and providing compassionate, trauma-informed care. This review contains 10 figures and 33 references. Keywords: human trafficking, intimate partner violence, primary care, rape, sexual assault, sexual violence, trauma-informed care, women